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Keeping the right time
Q. The time on my computer is not right. I have to fix it every few weeks. Is there a way around this problem?
A. Let's start with Windows XP. It includes a utility that sets the time. To access the utility, click Start>Control Panel. Double-click Date and Time. In the Date and Time Properties window, select the Internet Time tab. Check "Automatically synchronize with an Internet time server." That will synchronize the clock weekly. It works best with an always-on broadband connection.
If you have a dial-up connection, automatic synchronization might not always work. Solve that by using the Update Now button.
Windows 98 and ME do not have a time utility. But you can download Atomic Clock Sync from World Time Server.com. It's free and works well:
http://www.worldtimeserver.com/
You can set Atomic Clock Sync to update your computer clock daily. Or you can run it manually. World Time Server promises that no spyware will accompany the Atomic Clock Sync download.
If you continue to have time problems, your computer battery may be bad. The clock runs off the battery. This problem is especially likely in a Windows 98 machine, which is probably several years old. The battery is located on the motherboard. Some snap in and out, and are easy to replace. If the battery is soldered in, I would take it to a computer shop.
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"There is no point in running yourself down. There are thousands in the world more than willing to do that for you." -Louis Grizzard
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1/27/2005, 6:38 pm
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Send PM to vaspres
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Mysterious Icons
Got a message from a member who occasionally gets a strange icon on their desktop. The name of the file is "~" (a tilde). Properties says it's a file (like that's a big help!) and gives its size.
This is actually a common problem. It is caused by a bug in an update to Outlook Express, distributed by Microsoft in April. This file is a backup of the Address Book. Each time you update the Address Book, it appears. It's supposed to go to the Outlook Express folder (C:\Program Files\Outlook Express). But the bug causes it to be placed on the desktop.
If you want to keep the backup, copy the file to the Outlook Express folder. Then delete the desktop copy. Hopefully, a fix from Microsoft is on the way.
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"There is no point in running yourself down. There are thousands in the world more than willing to do that for you." -Louis Grizzard
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1/27/2005, 6:42 pm
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Send PM to vaspres
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Weird words in spam
Q. Every day I get spam that has garbled words at the bottom. I always delete spam, but I've been curious what this nonsense text is. I've included a sample for your reference. Can you tell me why it's there?
A. Included in this question was a long list of words from a spam message. The first six were kite, defrost, Decatur, Fatima, prolong and lacerate. Altogether, there must be 150 words.
The words are there to fool spam filters. Most of these filters count the words in a message, and also count words usually found in spam. You're familiar with those words--mortgage, rate, college, degree, prescription, drug, etc., not to mention the pornographic trash. The spam words are in the filter's database.
If the number of typical spam words reaches a certain percentage of all the words in the message, the message is filtered out as spam. By vastly increasing the number of words in the message, the percentage of spam words is sharply cut. Consequently, the message slips through the filter.
You will also see typical spam words with odd characters in them. Here's an example: V1agr@. That's readable to us, but it means nothing to the filter. So the filter does not catch it; it is looking for the correct spelling. Again, that reduces the percentage of typical spam words, and the message slips through.
Spammers use another trick, too. They send the words as part of an image. That tricks the filters, because they are looking for pure text. They don't read images. The result: More spam slips through. Sigh.
Staying up with the spammers is a never-ending battle. They always seem to find a way around defenses. All you can do is delete it. I never open it. Nothing good is in there.
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"There is no point in running yourself down. There are thousands in the world more than willing to do that for you." -Louis Grizzard
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1/27/2005, 6:47 pm
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Send PM to vaspres
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Stop intrusive Internet ads
Q. We are really tired of the intrusive ads on the Internet. Sometimes they cover a page, and there is nothing we can do until they end. Is there software available to block them?
A. Most of these ads, along with other pests and predators, can be blocked without software. Instead, you simply make changes to a text file located under Windows.
Here's how these things work. When you go to a Web page, it tells the browser to go to another site for the ad. The browser first checks the HOSTS file on your computer, to see if an IP number is listed there for the ad server. The IP (Internet Protocol) number is the true address.
If it doesn't find one, it goes to a domain name server, which tells it the IP number. It uses that to find the correct server, which downloads the ad to you. And then the ad blots out the page you want to see.
The HOSTS file is located in Windows or a Windows subfolder. You can put advertising server names in the file, along with the IP number 127.0.0.1. That tells your browser to go to the computer with that IP number to find the ad. But 127.0.0.1 is your computer. The browser doesn't find the ad, so it drops the effort.
The result? You either get a static ad, which doesn't get in your way, or a box that says "Action cancelled." Either way, you win.
This system also blocks tracking cookies, which are downloaded by advertising companies. These cookies do not identify you personally. Rather, they tell advertisers where your computer surfs. That information is sold, and used to feed ads to you.
Other spyware programs also are blocked. Anything that has to go to an outside server has to go through the HOSTS file first. If the Web site is listed there, the program will be blocked.
There is another use for the HOSTS file. If you see something you want to block from your children, enter its Web address in the file.
Here is where you will find the HOSTS file:
Windows XP--C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\etc
Windows 2000--C:\Winnt\System32\Drivers\etc
Windows 98 and ME--C:\Windows
Open the HOSTS file with Notepad. On one computer, I had to create a HOSTS file. I opened Notepad and used Save As. I named it HOSTS. I then downloaded an endless list of advertising addresses and put it in the HOSTS file. You can get a list from:
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm
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"There is no point in running yourself down. There are thousands in the world more than willing to do that for you." -Louis Grizzard
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1/27/2005, 6:55 pm
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Send PM to vaspres
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